Submarine device



Dec. 29, 1931. R G. MERRITT 5 SUBMARINE DEVICE.

Filed Feb. {5. 1928 o: 2.7 F, 9/ F/ .15.

gmwnlidw Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UETE STATES zen-ram oFF cE SUBMABINIEDEVICE Application filed February 13, 1923. Serial No. 254,029.

This invention relates to a submarine protective device and pertainsmore specifically to an apparatus for rescuing crews entrapped. insunken submarines, or other vessels having water-tight compartments.

As is well known, the occupation of a sub marine mariner is renderedvery hazardous by reason of the fact that rescue from a submerged vesselis peculiarly difficult and un fortunately too often unsuccessful.Here-tofore, many schemes for the rescue of the crews of submarines havebeen advanced. The majority of these contemplate the formation, on thehull of the vessel, of a closure which may communicate with a divingbell or similar device adapted to be lowered from the surface. tems isthat they make no provision for the men who are in a compartment of thesub- 0 i "ine other than that which is fitted with the closure referredto. For successful operation, the closure must be clear of the seabottom. the vessel is listed, the closure may be practicallyinaccessible.

It is an object of this invention to devise a method of rescuingentrapped crews of submarines or similar vessels which is not dependentupon any particular fixtures on the submarine itself. 7

Another object is to devise such a method,

the efiicacy of which is not impaired by the particular position of thevessel.

Yet another object is to provide a rescue large number of the crew atone time.

A further ob ect is to provide an apparatus of this general characterwhich is adapted to cooperate with any givensection of the hull.

with these and other equally important cal embodiment of it isillustrated in the accompanying drawings. Inthese drawings Adisadvantage in such sys-' In some circumstances, as where apparatuswhich is adapted to remove a the same reference numerals refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views of which Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of the device. a

Fig. 2 is a detail of the lower portion of the device in operativeassociation with a submarine.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. 1

'Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the upper portion of the structureshowing the closure means.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing a modification of the seal.

The invention comprehends the idea of lowering an enlarged containeronto the deck of a submarine. The container is so constructed that thissubmergence may be accomplished with the least possible hydrostaticresistance. After-the container has been lowered to the desired positionit is adapted to be sealed off from the surrounding aqueous medium andexhausted of its contained water. concomitantly with the exhaustion ofwater, there is insured an influx of air from the surface. The device ismanually operated in the sense that it contains a diver who may carryout certain operations incident to a successful rescue.

After the device has been emplaced upon the submarine, the removal ofwater is adapted to effect a tight seal, by means to be described fully,between the interior of the container and the extraneous Water. Byopening a lower closure in the device the diver may cut through the hullof the submerged submarine and remove or resuscitate the crew as theoccasion warrants. If the crew is to be removed, they take up a positionwithinthe containerand the lower closure is then sealed. In the mannerpresently to appear, by introducing fluid pressure into the lower partof the container, the erstwhile watertight seal is broken and thecontainer may be raised to the surface.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the device comprises a container1 fitted with upper and lower closures 2 and 3 respectively. Thecontainer may be constructed, preferably in one piece, from a suitablemetal having a desirably high compressive strength such for example aschromium, vanadium and nickel steels. These materials are desirable forthe present purpose primarily because of the fact that they arecharacterized by high resistance to corrosion in addition to possessinghigh tensile strength. Steels of this character are readily available onthe market and have atensile strength well in excess of 100,000 poundsper square inch at room temperature. As a typical example of suchmaterials, may be taken an alloy steel having .39 of carbon, .59 ofmanganese, .93 of chr0- mium, .23 of silica; this material possesses atensile strength of 175,000 pounds per square inch room temperature andbreaking strength of 213,000 pounds. It will be appreciated that whileit is desirable to use a material of high strength, the strengths of themagnitude indicated give a very wide tolerance. The compression to whichthe present container is subjected to in actual practice is very muchless than those numbers indicated.

It will be appreciated that while it is necessary that the materialemployed be of sulficient strength to withstand the range of pressuresto which it may be subjected, the latter are not inordinately high. Forapproximate calculations it can be assumed that the pressure to whichthe submerged'body is subjected will equal h cZ-l-c where h equals thedepth below the surface, d the density of the salt water and c aconstant representing atmospheric pressure taken at 14.7. If suchfactors as the change of density with increased depth and loweredtemperature be disregarded, the following tabulation indicates thepressure to which the device will be submitted:

Depth below Pressures and surface, in ft. lbs. per sq. in. I

From the above it will be seen that while high strength steels may beused they are not by any means essential. If desired, nonferrous alloysmay be employed. Duraluminum, which has a tensile strength approximating that of some steels and only one-third of the weight, isadaptable for this use. It will be appreciated that if this particularmaterial is used the lower strength annealed products may be employed.These have a tensile strength which is more than sufficient for thepresent use. Such products have atensile strength of the magnitude of85,000 pounds per square inch. Similarly other alloys such as brasscs orbronzes may, if desired, be employed.

Since the container is adapted to be submerged, it is necessary that thedensity of the material used. in its construction be greator than thatof the sea water. This specification will of course be complied with byany of the materials enumerated when it is considered that aluminum, oneof the light est of metals has a density of approximately 2.7. As willappear more fully hereinafter, as the container is submerged, it acts asa cylinder opened at each end and hence is buoyed only by a force equalto the weight of the displaced liquid. On ascending to the surface,however, the container is buoyed up by an increased force which is equalto the weight of the volume of water removed from the interior of thecontainer. This buoyant effect of course will vary with the dimensionalcharacteristics of tie particular container used.

In the preferred construction, the container takes the form of acylinder, although it is to be clearly understood, such a shape is notessential; it may be el iptical or even angular in cross section.Likewise while the device is shown as comprising a member ofsubstantially uniform diameter, it is obvious that it may be constructedof frusto conical shape.

The upper end of the cylinder provided with a top flange or ledge 4.This may be formed of one piece with the shell, or may consist of aninitially separate piece wh may be autogenously welded, brazed or 0th rwise suitably fused to the shell. Near its lower end the cylinder isformed internally with a similar flange This may be secured to theinterior wall by any of the means in dicated.

The flange 4 is adapted to cooperate with the closure 2. As shown inFig. 1, posts 6 are integrally secured to the bottom face of the flangeas by a welded joint or the like. The lower end of these posts areapertured and receive a pivot pin 6 on which is also pivoted the hingeplates 7. This plate is fastened to the lower face of the closure orhatch 2. The closure member is composed preferably of a heavy plate ofnon-corrosive metal such as brass, phosphor-bronze and the like. Atpoints spaced along the periphery of the circular plate there areprovided the slotted extensions 8 (Fig. 4). On the flange points abovethe slotted extensions, are integrally formed the posts 0. To these arepivoted the threaded securing bolts 10. Cr operating with the threadedportions of these bolts, are the internally threaded collars 11. Thesecollars are integrally formed with vertical shank 12 on the end of whichare provided the handles 13. It will be understood that the adjustablebolt mechanism cooperates with. the closure through the intermediacy ofthe slots 8 to lock the closure se curelv in its sealed position on theflange 4. In order to insure a water-tight seal for the closure, thelatter is provided with an annular groove 14 in which is received thegasket 15. The gasket may be made of rubber or any other Waterimpermeable material which has the desired resiliency.- This gasketpreferably is quite wide so as to insure a relatively large bearingsurface with the flange.

It will be understood that the closure 2 may be mounted so as tocooperate with the'upper face of the flange 4.

The flange 4 is tapped so as to receive a plurality of tubes 16. 1 Theseare adapted to provide conduits through the shell for the air intake andexhaust of the diving helmet 17. As shown, particularly in Fig. 4, thetube 16 is encircled, near each face of the flange 4, by a water-tightgasket 18. The portions of the tube 17 which project beyond the upperand lower faces of the flange 4 are formed on a taper and the section ofgreater diameter is externally threaded. It is understood that the tubes16 may be made with reduced ends instead of being tapered. lVith thesethreads cooperate the locking nuts 19, which, as will be understood,serve to lock the gaskets l8 inoperative position. 'The terminal orsmooth ends of the tubes 16 are formed with annular rings or bands 20.Over each end may be fitted the hose sections 21 and the former leadingfrom the container to the pump on the lighter or rescue ship and thelatter leading to the divers helmet. The hose sections are adaptedto fitover the smooth ends of the tubes and are clamped thereto by means ofthe collars 23. It will be observed that the rings 20 serve, inconjunction with the-bands 20, to. lock the hose in its position on thetubes.

i-Ls shown in the upper portion of Fig. 1 another section of the flange4 is tapped to receive tubes 24; which may open communication betweenthe interior of the container and the atmosphere by way of the hoselines 25 and 26. A line 27, which may be of metallic piping, descendsalong one side of the container down to the lower portion thereof. Atits lowermost end, it is provided with a strainer 28. The hose 26 on theother hand terminates immediately inside of the flange l. It will beunderstood, as will be pointed out in detail hereinafter, that the line25 is utilized to withdraw water from the contain- The interior of thecontainer is provided.

with means to permit ascent and descent of diver or members of therescued crew. T shown as comprising a ladder 31 l which may be formed ifdesired, by Welding brackets to the sides of the cylinder. Convenientlypositioned about the interior periphery of the container are a pluralityof seats 32. These may, if desired, be integrally formed with thecontainer body by welding the seat 32 together with its support bracket33 to the cylinder wall. It will be appreciated, however, that these maybe hinged to the interior wall and may, when not in use, be folded backto the wall and held by a suitable latch.

Near its lower end, the container is formed exteriorly with a pluralityof annular lands or extensions 34;. Fitting over these lands andextending above and below them, is a seal member for the container. Thisis composed preferably of a heavy rubber body which is flared outwardlyand gradually tapered towards its bottom portion, to form, in effect, a"feather-like tip. In the pre ferred construction, the seal is so formedthat the upper section, designated by the letter A is made of heavyrubber, possessing relatively little resiliency while the lip portion Bis formed of a more plastic solid. The seal member is firmly secured tothe containerby means of the sealing collars 35, locked in position bythe bolts 35. A plurality of these are provided and are so arranged thatthe collars 35 and lands at alternate in a given vertical plane.- Inthis manner, the seal A is not only firmly placed against the sides ofthe container but the vertical displacement or slippage of the seal withrespect to the container is precluded.

It is to be observed, at this point, that the container properterminates, in effect, at the lower flange 5. The shell, however,depends below'this position as shown by the walls 36. The air line 27and strainer 28 extends downwardly to position practically flush withthe lowermost portion of the shell 1. It is particularly to be observedthat the lower edge of the shell is formed with c tout'por tions 36.These cutout portions may be in the form of serrations, castellations orother such designs. These permit open communication between the spacewithin the cylindrical section 36 and that included within theconfinesof the exterior of this section and "he interior of the seal.The seal'A, when in operative position, extends considerably below thelower limit of the container shell.

As shown in Fig. 1 this is constructed and arranged to cooperate withthe upper deck of a submarine which is indicated in Fig. 2 at 37. Insome circumstances, as intimated hereinbefore, it is possible that thesubmarine will be listed either to starboard or port. To anticipate sucha contingency and to insure effective operation of the device, aplurality of seals A may be made up for cooperation with each container.These are constructed so as to present a lower edge C which conforms i ncurvature to the various curves utilized in "a crane on the rescue ship.

the Construction of the hull. In ordinary circumstances, no more thanthree such seals would be necessary. One having a substantially planelower edge, for cooperation with the deck of the vessel; the secondhaving a relatively llat curve for cooperation with the side of thevessel amidships and a third having greater are for cooperativeassociation with the quarter. Aside from the particular curve of theseals, they are alike in construction and operation and are readilyattached and removed.

The o *ation of the device is as follows.

The sur n submarine is first located by divers and they ascertain inwhich compar meat or compartments the members of the crew are trapgcd.When this information is obtained the device shown in the drawings islowered into the water from a. derrick or This may readily be done byattaching suitable shackles and cables to tile upper eyelets 38attached, as shown in 1, to the outside surface of the container. Beforethe device is lowered the closures 2 and 3 are opened, the hoses 21, 22,and 26 are secured in position and the diver takes his place either onthe top or inside, on one of the seats or the ladder. It is to beassumed that a second diver has descended to the hulk and is ready tocooperate below. As the container is lowered the water will freely enterthe apertures now uncovered by closures 3 and 2. The only resistance tothe descent of the container will be the buoyancy the water which, as isknown, will be equal to the weight of iquid displaced by the container.Since the weight of the entire apparatus is consideraly in excess ofthis buoyancy force, it will freely descend below the surface.

As the container approaches the hull the diver on the insidecommunicates, as by means of a telephone, with the helpers on thelighter or rescue ship. Upon his instruction the crane on the lightermay be adjusted to move the container vertically and laterally until thedesired emplacement is made. l herever possible the container will beplaced over a hatch or closure also formed on the hull of the vessel. ltis to be understood that the diver or divers outside of the containerwill. assist in this operation. When the container has been emplaced onthe hull the diver outside of the container may, by hand pressure,firmly force the peripheral tip of the seal against the hull. Ifnecessary he will vicar away any debris or any obstructions on the hullwhich might interfere with a tight lit. It will be understood that theeye-bolts 28 may be utilized for the attachment of adjustable stayswhich may be secured at their other end to suitable portions of thesubmarine structure so as to securely fasten the device in its operativeposition. hen such fit has been made the diver inside of the containercloses the upper closure 2. He then communicates with the helpers on thesurface who, upon his instruction, operate a force pump or gas liftconnected to the line 25. The operation of this pump will withdraw waterfrom the interior of the container through the line 25.

The line 26, it will be understood, is formed with a valve 26 which isnow opened by the diver. If desired this may be a valve automaticallyoperable upon the withdrawal of water. The hose 26 may be connected toan air pump or may merely be open to the atmos phere. As the level ofthe water in the container descends atmospheric air will be drawn in bysuction or forced in by pump pressure through the line 26 and valve 26.If a pump is used it should be so regulated that the air pressure withinthe container is the same as that of the atmosphere, as indicated by asuitable pressure gauge.

Upon continued operation of the pump connected to the line 25 the waterin the container will soon become exhausted. During this time, it willbe appreciated, an increasing pressure differential is being built upbetwen the inside of the container and the outside. When the level ofthe water has reached the deck 3'? the pressure on the inside of theseal will be approximately 14.7 while the pressure on the outside willbe in excess of this for any point below the surface. F or example, ifthe container is two hundred feet be low the surface the rubber sealwill be forced tightly against the deck by a pressure equal to 108.3minus 14.7 or 93.6 lbs. per sq. in. This will insure a watertight sealbetween the deck 37 and the seal A.

When all of the contained water has been withdrawn from the cylinder thediver therein may then upon the closure on the vessel or if no suchclosure is provided he may cut an opening in the deck 37 by means of anonyacetylene torch, or other cutting device. During descent of thecontainer, it will be understood, this torch may be enclosed in awatertight box so as to prevent admission of water thereto.

The formation of an aperture in the deck 37 will open communicationbetween the container and the interior of the submarine. if the membersof the crew are in a weakened condition the diver may descend into theship and carry them into the container, or if necessary, he mayresuscitate them, it being understood that suthcient slack in the hoselines .22 is pro *idcd. If they have been submerged for a considerableperiod and the oxygen supply is low the diver may communicate with thehelpers on board the lighter who will force fresh air down througheither the pipes 25 or 26.

In any event, after a short period of time the diver will then be ableto remove the members of the crew from that compartment into thecontainer. These may be seated on the seats 32 and if necessarysupported thereon by means of suitable straps or the like.

After all of the creW have been removed from that compartment the diverenters the container, closes the lower hatch 3 and looks it securely inposition by operation of the adjusting means 11. He then againcommunicates with the helpers on board the rescue ship, informing themthat the container is now sealed off, thus giving signal for ascent. Onreceipt of this information the helpers on board the ship operate a pumpwhich is preferably motor driven and connected to the pipe E25. By thismeans air may be forced down through pipe 25 into the bottom of thecontainer below the closure 3. When this air pressure reaches a point inexcess of the hydrostatic pressure on the outside of the seal thecontainer will start to rise. In its ascent it will be buoyed up by aforce which is equal substantially to the volumetric capacity of thecontainer. It will of course be understood that the diver on theexterior of the container may break the seal by puncturing it with anysuitable tool to allow admission of water.

If the container is constructed of a very lio'ht material and is ofrelatively great internal volume it may be weighted down. It will benoted that during the ascent the flared portions of the seal act asretarding fins. When the container has arrived at the surface it may behoisted aboard the lighter and emplaced on the deck. After opening theupper closure 2 the crew may be removed.

If there are men confined in other compartments of the vessel the devicemay again be lowered and the operation repeatec.

The container may be constructed of such a size that it will transport,without difficulty, all of the members of the crew of the submarine.However, this is not essential since in most all circumstances themembers of the crew will be distributed about various compartments andit will be necessary only that the container be of such a size as totransport-the number of men normally allotted to the largestcompartment. It will be understood of course that two of these devicesmay be used simultaneously upon the same vessel, for instance while oneis attached near the bow of the ship the other may be operating likewiseat or near the stern.

It will be understood that certain parts of the device, such for exampleas the pumping mechanism, has been indicated only diagrammatically. Theinstallation and use of such devices are well known to those skilled inthe art and for that reason it has not been described in detail. It willbe understood, of course, that the pump used for forcing water out ofthe container will be of the force pump type. If desired, an air liftsystem may be used, making use of isothermal expansion. In this case, ofcourse, the pipe 27 will be of critical diameter. The material chosenfor the container is preferably of such density that its weight, whentaken in conjunction with the sealing efl'ect of the seal A, will be Imore than suficient to overcome the buoyant force of the water exhaustedcontainer.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my inventionit is to be understood that this merely typifies its run derlyingprinciples, for since these may be incorporated in other specificstructures I do not intend to be limited to that shown except in so faras such limitations are clearly imposed by the appended claims.

claim:

1. A submarine device comprising a container, a closure at each endthereof, means to discharge Water from and admit air to the container, aresilient body flared outwardly and gradually tapered toward its bottomportion, and means for securing said resilient body around the exteriorof the container.

2. A submarine device comprising a container, a closure at each end ofthe container, means to discharge Water from and admit air to thecontainer, a heavy rubber body flared outwardly and gradually taperedtoward its bottom portion secured around the exterior container so thatits bottom extends below the container, said rubber body adapted to forma water-tight seal between the containerand a submerged vessel.

3. A submarine device comprising a container, a closure at the topthereof, a closure near the bottom thereof, said container beingprovided with a plurality of cutaway portions at its end adjacent thebottom closure, a flexible body secured around the exterior of saidcontainer and extending below the bottom thereof, said body adapted toform an effective water-tight seal between the container and a submergedvessel and means extending through said closures adapted to break theengagement of the resilient body with said vessel.

1-. A submarine device comprising a container, a closure at the topthereof,'a closure near the bot-tom thereof, said container beingprovided with a plurality of cutaway portions at its end adjacent thebottom closure, a resilient body secured to the exterior of saidcontainer and extending below the bottom thereof, said body adapted toform an effective water-tight seal between the container and a submergedvessel and a pipe extending through the container and both of saidclosures adapted to conduct fluid under pressure therethrough forbreaking the seal between the container and the vessl.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' ROBERT Gr. MERRITT.

